The Rise and Fall of Big Jook: Memphis Hip-Hop’s Bloody Feud and Unanswered Questions.
On a chilly afternoon in January 2024, tragedy struck the Memphis hip-hop community. Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, the older brother of rap mogul Yo Gotti, was gunned down in the parking lot of a local restaurant shortly after attending a funeral.
The murder sent shockwaves through the city and reignited decades-old tensions that have haunted Memphis rap for years.
But as new evidence surfaced and the trial for Young Dolph’s murder unfolded, the story of Big Jook’s life—and death—became a symbol of the violent cycle gripping the city’s music scene.
The Yo Gotti vs. Young Dolph Feud
The rivalry between Yo Gotti and Young Dolph quickly became legendary. It wasn’t just about record deals—it was about pride, territory, and who would be crowned King of Memphis.
In February 2016, Dolph released his debut album “King of Memphis” on the same day Yo Gotti dropped “The Art of Hustle,” making their competition public and personal.
The disrespect escalated. Dolph’s 2017 diss track “Play With Yo” targeted both Yo Gotti and Big Jook directly, featuring a lookalike of Gotti being humiliated in the music video.
In Memphis, words like these don’t just fade away—they echo through the streets and demand a response.
That response came in bullets. In February 2017, Dolph’s bulletproof SUV was sprayed with over 100 rounds in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Miraculously, he survived and performed that same night. The incident became the basis for his album “Bulletproof” and the single “Hundred Shots.”
Black Youngsta, a CMG artist, was initially charged but later cleared.
Later that year, Dolph was shot multiple times outside a Los Angeles hotel where Yo Gotti was also staying.
While Gotti was cleared, his associate was arrested and released without charges. Through it all, Dolph kept making music and talking, while Big Jook was allegedly keeping score.
Murder, Money, and a Hit List
Years later, during the trial for Young Dolph’s murder, disturbing allegations surfaced. Prosecutors claimed Big Jook, frustrated by years of disrespect and failed attempts on Dolph’s life, put a $100,000 bounty on Dolph’s head.
Court documents revealed a hit list: Dolph at $100,000, his cousin Key Glock at $50,000, and other Paper Route Empire members with smaller bounties.
On November 17, 2021, someone finally collected on the biggest bounty. Young Dolph was assassinated in broad daylight while buying cookies at a beloved Memphis bakery.
Two men emerged from a stolen car and fired 22 shots through the window, killing Dolph instantly. The attack was captured on surveillance video, shocking the city and the music industry.
Police quickly arrested Justin Johnson (Straight Drop), Cornelius Smith, and Hernandez Goan, who was charged as the alleged mastermind.
Johnson’s half-brother was charged as an accessory. But the burning question remained: Who ordered the hit?
Explosive Trial Revelations
In September 2024, Justin Johnson’s trial began. Cornelius Smith, facing his own murder charges, agreed to testify against his co-defendant.
Smith claimed he and Johnson were recruited by Goan for a $100,000 contract directly from Big Jook.
The money was supposed to be split, but Smith said he only received $800 for his role in the murder, plus $50,000 from CMG for legal fees.
Prosecutors argued this was more than street violence—it was a corporate hit disguised as gang activity.
CMG versus Paper Route Empire, label versus label, with Dolph as the prize. Smith described how he and Johnson tracked Dolph’s movements during his annual turkey giveaway, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Smith’s motives were chillingly simple: money. He said he was struggling with personal loss and drug use, and the murder happened on his daughter’s birthday. He claimed he did it to “make it rain” for her.
Johnson’s attorney attacked Smith’s credibility, arguing that he was testifying for a reduced sentence and that the evidence was circumstantial.
Despite doubts, the jury found Johnson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and firearm possession. He was sentenced to life without parole.
The Brutal Death of Big Jook
But the man accused of orchestrating the hit—Big Jook—never faced justice. Nine months before the trial began, Big Jook was murdered after attending a family funeral.
The killing was brutal and public, with rumors circulating that it happened in front of his mother. Footage of Big Jook bleeding out on the ground spread on social media, adding to the gruesome spectacle.
On January 13, 2024, police responded to gunshots at Perignon’s Restaurant and Event Center in Memphis. Big Jook, 47, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Another victim survived. Surveillance cameras captured suspects fleeing in a white Ford Explorer, but as of August 2025, no arrests have been made and the investigation remains open.
The lack of resolution has fueled speculation. Some say street codes prevent witnesses from coming forward.
Others suspect deeper conspiracies. The aftermath saw Yo Gotti’s restaurant shot up and his family urged to leave Memphis for their safety.
Social Media, Irony, and the Cycle of Violence
One haunting detail: Big Jook posted on Instagram just a day before his death, warning, “They don’t want to face you, they want to snake you. Stay alert, too. Stay alive.
Watch your back at all times.” Twenty-four hours later, he was dead. Did he know something was coming, or was this the mindset of a man constantly living in danger?
Social media buzzed with cryptic messages from Paper Route Empire affiliates, some seeming to celebrate Jook’s death. Others dismissed this as typical online noise.
The poetic irony of the situation—rivalries turning fatal, lives lost on camera, and cycles of revenge—echoes stories like King Von and FBG Duck, where violence begets violence.
The Aftermath and Unanswered Questions
Music manager Wack 100 warned that the revelations could lead to federal RICO charges against CMG, but as of now, none have materialized.
Yo Gotti has remained silent, issuing no public statements about the allegations or his brother’s death. Some see this as smart legal strategy, others as guilt, and still others as private grief.
Big Jook’s funeral was unlike any Memphis had seen: helicopters, snipers, and overwhelming police presence. The message was clear—Yo Gotti and his family were taking no chances.
As the city mourns, the questions remain: Who killed Big Jook? Will anyone ever be charged? Is there an end in sight to the bloodshed that has claimed so many lives in Memphis?
The investigation is still open, but in a city where silence is survival and snitching can be fatal, justice may never come.
The cycle continues. Young Dolph is gone. Big Jook is gone. Justin Johnson will die in prison. And Memphis, for all its musical brilliance, remains haunted by the ghosts of its greatest talents.
